Hello, everyone! Welcome to Chapter 6! Apologies again for the lengthy delay, life happens. As always, make sure you favorite, follow, and review! :)
It was quite a while before the Falcon came into view of the pink gaseous planet. Huge clouds soared up around them like canyons. They were headed towards Cloud City. Or at least they were trying to. Two cloud ships appeared on either side of the Falcon and they began to shoot, causing the ship to rock. Mia was trying not to panic. Han was trying to get permission to land. "No, I don't have a landing permit," he said for what had to have been the fifteenth time. "I'm trying to reach Lando Calrissian." More blasts rattled the ship. Mia and Leia clasped their hands in worry.
"Whoa!" Han exclaimed after a particularly bad one. "Let me explain here!"
"You will not deviate from your present course," came the voice over the intercom.
"Rather touchy, aren't they?" asked 3-PO. He had been using a lot fewer words since being turned back on. Mia still hadn't turned Vee back on yet.
"I thought you said you knew this person," said Leia anxiously. Chewie growled something at Han.
"Well that was a long time ago," said Han. "I'm sure he's forgotten all about me." Finally there came the voice one more time through the crackle of the static.
"Permission granted to land on platform 327," it said. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you," Han said bitterly, though Mia could tell he was actually grateful. He snapped off the intercom and began to guide the Falcon towards the designated landing spot. "Don't worry, me and Lando go way back."
"Who's worried?" Leia asked snidely. Han gave her a look and soon the gleaming white metropolis peaked its way through the clouds. Mia thought it was one of the most beautiful places she had ever seen. With the cloud cars still guarding the Falcon, Han landed the ship on the platform with a thump. Han and Leia drew their blasters again. Mia desperately wished she had one. But nevertheless, she followed them to the door. They opened it only to reveal an empty platform.
"There's no one here!" Vee said, for Mia had reactivated her.
"I don't like this," Leia muttered.
"Well, what would you like?" Han snapped back.
"At least they let us land," Mia observed. "Surely someone will be here soon." No sooner than the words had left her mouth did there come a party being led by a dashing man in a cape. His entourage was a mix of aliens, humans, and droids.
"See?" Han said. "My friend." He lowered his blaster but whispered, "Keep your eyes open". The man had a grim look on his face. He stopped ten feet away from them then shook his head. He spoke, his tone dripping with venom.
"You got a lotta nerve coming back here after what you pulled," he said. "You slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler!" Leia and Mia looked at each other in fright. He sure didn't sound like a friend of Han's.
"Moi?" he mouthed innocently, pointing to himself. Lando moved threateningly closer. Han actually looked startled. But then he became even more so when Lando threw his arms around Han in an embrace. Lando gave a hearty laugh.
"Ah, I never thought I'd catch up with you again!" Lando exclaimed. "How you been, you old pirate?"
"Well, he seems friendly," 3-PO observed.
"Yeah, he's nice!" Vee agreed. But Mia wasn't so sure. Her and Leia exchanged another wordless, uneasy glance.
"What're you doing here?" Lando cheerfully asked Han. He swept his arm towards the Falcon.
"Repairs," he said. "Thought you could help me out."
"What have you done to my ship?" Lando asked in slight panic.
"Hey, it's not your ship," Han said sternly. "You lost fair and square, remember?" But Lando didn't hear him. He had seen Mia and Leia.
"Well, hello. What have we here?" he asked, sizing them up. "I'm Lando Calrissian, administrator of this facility. And who might you lovely ladies be?"
"I'm Leia, Princess of Alderaan," she said stiffly.
"Welcome, Leia," Lando smiled. He bowed and kissed her hand. "I was so sorry to hear about your planet." Leia nodded once in acknowledgement.
"And this is?" Lando asked, turning to Mia.
"I am Queen Miavala Crixxiani of Naboo." Mia saw Lando's eyes widen. He bowed and kissed her hand as well.
"Welcome, Queen Crixxiani. It is wonderful to have both of you here."
"Alright, you old smoothie," Han said, irritated. He took Leia's hand and steered her away from Lando, towards the entrance to the city. Lando offered Mia his arm. Being too polite to refuse she linked hers with his.
"So what's wrong with the Falcon?" Lando asked once they had crossed into city limits.
"Hyperdrive," Han replied simply. "Can't get it to work. I've tried almost everything."
"Not to worry, old friend," Lando reassured. "I'll have my people take a look at it immediately." Lando patted Mia's hand in turn to her. "You know that ship saved my life many times. She's the fastest thing in the galaxy."
"Yes," Mia dared to smirk. "So Han likes to ensure we never forget." She looked back over her shoulder at him. "Though I'm still unsure whether or not he means it's simply the fastest to have something become wrong with it." A red flush swept across Han's cheeks. Leia covered her mouth with her free hand to stifle her laugh. Lando let out a hearty chuckle.
"I would wager you're right, Your Highness." he smiled. "I'll have to tell you the story of how Han won her from me. You see, it all started when-" Lando began to tell the tale of how on the jungle planet Numidian Prime, Han beat Lando at sabacc to win the infamous ship. Though knowing Han, Mia had a suspicion that he had cheated. As Lando talked they had crossed the narrow bridge and entered the beautiful city. They walked down a bridge, rounded several corners, and passed through many small plazas as they went.
"How's the gas mine?" Han asked once Lando had finished his story. "Is it paying off?"
"Not as well as I'd like," Lando admitted reluctantly. "Labor's hard to come by these days. Besides we're a small outpost and therefore not very self sufficient. Not to mention the supply problems I've been having…" For a brief moment Mia reflected on the supplies she sent to the Emperor. A flicker of fear settled within her. Did that make her a traitor? She was brought back by Han and Lando laughing at something one of them had said. Mia could feel Leia eyeing her. They were now walking down a gleaming white corridor, Han and Lando were still conversing with one another. Han told Lando tales from the rebellion. Leia remained oddly silent.
Before long, Lando showed Mia and Leia to a room which would be their quarters while the Falcon was being repaired. Han had one right across the hall. Lando had provided them with new clothes to wear. Leia had a red dress with matching pants and a long white vest. Mia was given a two piece blue dress that wrapped around her body and a matching cape that just grazed her shoulders and fell to her knees. The gold details shone like the sun, and the azure rippled fabric felt like water against her skin. She was even given a small, simple golden crown to was a welcome change from the clothes that she had been rewearing for almost a month now. Lando threw a party in honor of their arrival that night. They dined with him, indulging in many Bespin delicacies. After being all but pressured, Mia agreed to sing for everyone. She sang ballads, folk and war songs. Han even tried to drunkenly join in, which made Leia cry tears of laughter. The party lasted well into the night and when Leia and Mia arrived back to their quarters (not noticing that 3PO was no longer with them) they collapsed on their cloud beds and fell asleep.
The dream started out like most dreams did for Mia. She would always be floating through a void, hearing the echoed voice of her father. He would be singing to her or calling her name. Sometimes the nickname he had given her as a baby. It was the only part of his voice she could remember. However, she would never forget the sound of it, how he seemed to be smiling when he said her name, But tonight…tonight it was different. There was no void. There was a place. A rather dense place it was. There was a thick, muggy air that accompanied the towering trees and foliage. Mia in her dream heard a noise. She turned around and there before her was a shirtless Luke. Only he was upside down in a handstand. His eyes were closed in concentration. Mia's eyes widened and a blush spread across her cheeks at the sight of his bare arms, chest, and abdominals. He looked different; strong and muscular. But still very much attractive. She managed to pull away her gaze to notice the dozens of floating rocks surrounding him, moisture dripping from them like rain. And there was a little green creature wearing robes, watching him intently. Of course. Mia must be seeing his Jedi training. She heard the creature speak to him in a gravelly voice.
"Good," he said. "Concentrate, you must. Focus, you must. But steady your breathing must be. Clear your mind. Control." The rocks Luke was lifting with the Force began to move in a circle. Faster and faster until they were blurs to Mia's eyes. Her jaw dropped. It was amazing to witness. Eventually the rocks began to slow their spinning as Luke used his abilities to lower them to the ground. He moved to one hand and used momentum to launch himself into the air, performing a flip then landing on his feet. Mia in her mind didn't know if this was real or not, but she was impressed.
"How was that, Master Yoda?" Luke breathed hard.
"Strong in the Force, your abilities are. But clouded still are your thoughts." Luke sighed and looked at the ground.
"I'm sorry Master Yoda, but I keep thinking about my friends. They're in danger in that city, I know it! I wouldn't be able to live with myself if Mia, Han, and Leia got hurt!" Mia blushed as he said her name first. Her ears barely picked up on the words 'danger' and 'city'.
"Value their life, you do," Yoda replied. "Great skills for Jedi. But stay here, you must if you wish to help them." Luke began to say something but Yoda held up a small green hand. "No, speak not. Enough training for today." Luke's head lowered to the ground and he sighed in dejection. He kicked a rock. Mia cautiously approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. But to her surprise it went right through him. It was as if he was a ghost. Of course, this was a dream. But Luke seemed like he could feel it. She hovered her hand over his shoulder as if to touch him again.
"Luke," Mia whispered. His head popped up as his eyes darted this way and that. He looked utterly bewildered.
"Mia?" he whispered back. No sooner than her name left his lips did he and the surrounding landscape began to fade back into the dark void. She awoke in her cloud bed. She sat up and looked around. Leia was still softly snoring in her bed across the room. Her head was still spinning from the dream. Were they really in danger here? Could Luke really sense it? Surely such a small and remote outpost would be undetected or overlooked by a threat? Her head was starting to pound from her questions. She rolled over and tried to resume her rest, but found she could not.
Mia emerged from the refresher the next morning, still in her worried state. She had confided in Leia about her dream and that all but confirmed her suspicions that they couldn't trust Lando or this strange place. She was also worried because 3PO was not anywhere to be found. She was pacing back and forth by the window when the door opened and in walked Han. "Great news," he said. "Two or three more days and we're in great shape."
"The sooner the better," Leia snapped. "Something is very wrong here. No one knows anything about 3PO and Mia had a vision last night of Luke saying we were in danger!" Han, surprising Mia, did not retort, but instead gently took Leia by the shoulders and kissed her forehead.
"We're going to be fine," he said. "I'll talk to Lando and see what he can do about it."
"I don't trust Lando," Leia said, sitting down on the plush couch.
"She's right," Mia said. "I do not think that Lando is being honest with us. There is something seriously wrong here. I can feel it." Mia heard Leia whisper the word 'Force' under her breath.
"Hey for what it's worth, I also don't trust Lando." Han said. "But he is my friend. "Besides, we'll soon be out of here and gone."
"And then you're as good as gone, aren't you?" Leia said, her tone dripping with anger. Mia cast a subtle glance at Han. Was she feeling the conflict within him? Or was it because it was plainly written all over his face? Before he could respond to Leia the door opened and Chewie entered the room carrying a basket full of what looked like scrap metal and spare parts. But upon closer inspection they realized it was not either of those, but instead the golden metal carcass of C-3PO!
"What happened?!" Mia and Leia exclaimed at the same time. Chewie grunted an explanation. He had found him in a junk pile.
"Oh, what a mess," Han said. "Can you repair him?" Chewie just grunted and sadly shrugged. "Don't worry buddy, Lando's got people that can fix him."
"Absolutely not," Leia protested. As if on cue, the door opened again and there was the man of mention. He stopped when he saw how close Han and Leia were.
"I'm sorry, am I interrupting anything?"
"Not at all, Lando," Mia said. "Please come in." Lando drank in the sight of Leia and Mia.
"You ladies look absolutely beautiful," he said smoothly. "Truly I have never seen two more immaculate works of art in the entire galaxy." Mia stiffly smiled. Leia eked out a small thank you. "Would you like to join me for a little refreshment?" Han looked at his friend suspiciously, but Chewie barked and licked his lips at the mention of food. Han shrugged and offered Leia his hand. Lando did the same with Mia's arm. Just as they were about to leave the room, Lando spotted 3PO. "Having trouble with your droid?" he asked in a nonchalant way.
"No," Han replied sharply. "Why do you ask?" Lando said nothing but led the way to the door. They walked through a long corridor with shafts of sunlight streaming in between pure white columns. Mia tried to diffuse the tension by asking Lando more questions about the gas mining operations.
"Do you have any major planets or systems that invest here?" she asked.
"Well, you see," he replied. "Since we're a small operation we don't exactly fall into the…uh…jurisdiction of the empire."
"So then are you part of the mining guild?"
"Actually, no," Lando said sheepishly. "Our operation is too small to be officially recognized, which is fortuitous in a way. Our customers themselves are anxious to attract attention." They headed for a door at the end of a long hallway.
"You aren't afraid the Empire will find out about your little operation and shut you down?" Han piped up. Mia swallowed the lump in her throat. She certainly was afraid.
"That's always been a danger looming like a shadow over everything we've
built here." Lando replied. "But things have developed that will ensure security. I've just made a deal that will keep the Empire out of here forever." Lando opened the ornate door and before Mia could register what had happened, Han whipped out his blaster and fired four shots. His weapon was yanked out of his hand. When the smoke cleared, Mia stood frozen at the sight of Darth Vader standing at the end of the table, Han's blaster in his hand. At his side there was a Mandalorian bounty hunter. The Dark Lord assessed them and spoke in a low, chilling voice that shook Mia to her core.
"We would be honored if you would join us." Han gave Lando a burning look. Never before had Mia seen a look for such fury. Stormtroopers filed into the hallway behind them, blasters at the ready.
"I had no choice," said Lando cooly, the ice to Han's fire. "They arrived late last night after you all were sleeping. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too," Han replied. This time, Mia was sure that he meant it. They all took a deep breath and faced Vader at the table as the doors closed behind them. After a few awkward moments of standing there, Lando took the seat at Vader's left. Leia took the one to his right. Mia sat next to Lando and Han next to Leia. Chewie next to him. There was surprisingly an abundance of food on the table. Lando began serving himself and eating as if nothing was amiss. Chewie sat in silence, not eating anything. Han and Leia did not eat but drank wine. Han was looking at Lando as if he was contemplating murder. Mia tried to eat as much as she could, not wanting to seem rude in front of Darth Vader of all people. The man himself remained silent. Lando met Han's eyes and rolled his own.
"Oh come on, Han I had no choice. I knew who Leia and Mia were as soon as you landed. I knew you were wanted by the Empire. I suppose it's to them that I owe my comfortable existence to the Empire. Even though I'm not a part of it, I trade with it."
"I hope you were well paid, you two timing bilgefrog," Han replied. "You know what's going to happen to us."
"Lord Vader has assured me that nothing would happen to any of you," Lanod said casually as if he was not in the room.
"Ha!" Leia exclaimed. "I've enjoyed Lord Vader's hospitality before. What's the matter, Lord Vader?" she then asked boldly. "Have you gone so far beyond humanity that you don't feel the need to engage in conversation?" He was silent for a few moments, as if analyzing Leia's question.
"I have foregone those trivial matters," he said. "But there are compensations. And you are forgetting, Your Highness, that when we entertained you aboard the Death Star you had vital information that the Empire needed. Now you have nothing."
"Then…I don't understand," she replied.
"All shall be revealed in time. But I have set a guard on that measly ship of yours so there will be no chance of escape. I shan't lock the doors unless you make it necessary. There is no need to worry…yet."
"Any time the Empire is around, I worry," Leia whispered. Mia stayed silent as the meal went on. Afterwards, Vader instructed the stormtroopers to escort Mia, Leia, and Chewie to a prison cell in the depths of the city. The room was flooded with a hot light and somewhere a high pitched sound was emitting from somewhere. Chewie howled and Leia and Mia covered their ears. Suddenly though, the lights dimmed down and the sound stopped. In the silence, they could hear across the hall, the screams of Han as he was being tortured by Vader. Mia looked at Leia and saw that tears were falling down her cheeks. She knew what was befalling Han at that moment. For a few seconds, she considered telling Vader of her aid to the Empire in case he tried to torture her as well. Her mind kept swimming with anxious thoughts and excuses she could use.
Chewie could finally begin to work on 3PO. With the help of Vee, they connected wires and parts until he could finally speak again. He rambled on and on about how his head was backwards, or how his sight would flicker on and off, with plenty of insults at Chewie to boot. He was eventually interrupted once Chewie deactivated a circuit, shutting him down. Just then, the door slid open and two stormtroopers shoved in a pale, weak, and exhausted Han. Leia immediately ran over to him on the ground and together with Mia helped him up and laid him on a table.
"I feel terrible," he grumbled. Leia gently stroked and kissed his face.
"Why are they doing this?" Mia sighed, placing her own head in her hands
"They never even asked me any questions," Han said exasperated. The cell door slid open once more.
"Lando," Leia announced to Han. The man entered with two stormtroopers.
"Get out, Lando!" Han barked.
"Shut up and listen!" replied Lando sternly. "Vader's agreed to turn Leia and Chewie over to me. They'll have to stay here, but at least they'll be safe. And as for you, well…you're being turned over to Boba Fett, the bounty hunter."
"Oh no," Han groaned. "Looks like Jabba's finally got me now."
"What about me?" Mia dared to ask him.
"Vader has something else planned for you," Lando said. "I don't know what in particular he wouldn't tell me." That did not help the knot in Mia's stomach. She felt as if she could vomit.
"Vader wants us all dead!" Leia shot back.
"He doesn't want you at all! He's after somebody named Skywalker."
"Luke?!" Han exclaimed.
"Vader has a trap set for him. He's on his way here."
"So we're the bait, then," Leia mused, putting the pieces together. "Looks like your vision was correct, Mia." Mia swallowed another lump in her throat. They should've escaped when they had the chance. Or tried to warn Luke when she was in her dream. Now he was in danger and they were being tortured because of her. Momentarily everything became silent and her vision went dark, but she was snapped out of it by Han punching Lando square in the jaw.
"Look I'm sorry, alright?!" he exclaimed. "I'm sorry I couldn't do better! But I had to do what I did to ensure the safety of my employees!"
"Yeah, you're a real hero!" Han seethed. He put a head to his hand in pain and laid back down on the table. Mia sank to her knees in fear, rolling herself into a ball. A childish thought of trying to make her seem as small as possible so as to seem invisible flickered across her mind before she erased it. Lando sighed heavily and left as swiftly as he entered. Leia placed a tender kiss upon Han's lips.
"You sure have a way with people…" she muttered.
"One of my many talents," he managed to chuckle back. They all sat in silence for perhaps twenty minutes more before a squadron of stormtroopers came and escorted them out of the cell down to a small, crude looking chamber. Chewie had the parts of 3PO strapped onto his back. The poor droid was constantly asking to see what was going on. Luckily Vee was flying around enough to give him a visual on what he couldn't see. However, she wasn't very good at describing. Vader and Fett were watching as the group stepped onto the platform. Lando stood at the mouth of some kind of hole, looking down into it. "What's going on…buddy?" Han dripped.
"You're being put into carbon freeze," Lando said rather quietly. Carbon freeze, Mia thought. That was an ancient method of preservation used throughout the galaxy hundreds if not thousands of years ago. It was mostly used to preserve dying species for future generations to know about them. There were several extinct Naboo species back at the museum. It was extremely rare for humans to be placed in it, however.
"What if he doesn't survive?" hissed Fett. "He's worth a lot to me."
"The Empire will compensate you if he dies," replied Vader dismissively. Realizing what was about to happen, Chewie let out the loudest, saddest howl Mia had ever heard. Turning to anger, the Wookie began to attack the Stormtroopers around them. 3PO began to scream and Vee hid behind Mia. Just as the Imperial soldiers were about to bash Chewie in the face, Han broke free from the guards holding him.
"Chewie!" he yelled. "You have to stop! This won't help me!" He calmed down enough for the guard to slip binders on them. "Save your strength buddy. The princess is your responsibility now. You have to care for and protect her." Han turned to look at Leia, sorrow plastered on both of their faces. They came together in one more passionate kiss before Han was pulled onto the platform.
"I love you!" Leia exclaimed. She had been wanting to say that for a long time now. This was her last chance to confess.
"I know," Han replied sadly. As the platform began to lower, tears were streaming down all of the group's faces. Han was barely able to smile at Leia before the steam went up and the carbonite encased him. Mia wanted to look away but could not. Leia hugged her and cried. After a few seconds they brought up the now frozen Han. Lando looked at a few dials and sensors and sighed in relief.
"Well Calrissian?" Vader asked.
"Yes, he's alive and in perfect hibernation," Mia and Leia sighed in relief.
"He's all yours, Fett," Vader said to the bounty hunter. Turning to the workers, he said "Reset the chamber for Skywalker." At the mention of Luke, the hairs on Mia's arms stood up and she got chills down her spine. As if she was sucked out of reality she could suddenly see the descending clouds. Luke was here. As if on cue an Imperial officer walked up to Vader and saluted him.
"Skywalker has just landed, my lord,"
"Excellent," Vader replied. "See to it that he finds his way here. Calrissian, take the princess and the wookie to my ship." The color drained from Lando's face.
"Wait a minute, you said they'd be left under my supervision."
"I'm altering the deal," Vader said coldly. "Pray I don't alter it further." Lando instinctively reached for his throat. At last, Vader turned to Mia, the empty hollows of his mask still pierced her like any gaze. "Your Highness, you will now come with me. It would do you well to obey if you value your life." Mia gave Leia one last hug and patted Chewie.
"Vee, stay here," she commanded her droid. "I don't know what will happen to me, but the others will keep you safe." Vee began to protest in a sad voice but Mia interrupted. "That's an order, Vee. I'm sorry." Vee said nothing more but flew to Mia and settled for a moment on her shoulder. Mia gave her a hug as best she could before following Vader out of the chamber and back the way they had come, down the gleaming white corridors, now being flooded with colors from the sunset. After a few minutes of walking in silence, she remembered her crown on her head. She dared to speak.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked.
"As part of your compensation for supplying the Empire, my master has given special instructions that no harm shall come upon you, Your Highness."
"But I'm obviously with the Rebellion," Mia replied. "Why would he even bother keeping me alive? Or Naboo in one piece for that matter?"
"All shall be revealed," Vader said just like he did at the dinner. After a few minutes more, Vader led Mia to another door. "The Emperor would rather have you and Naboo alive. To meet your true destiny."
"My what?" Mia asked. But Vader did not say another word. Instead he placed his hand on a pad and the door slid open to reveal a small lounge-like area. Mia could not immediately register what it looked like. A few seconds after the door slid open there came a voice. A voice that she had imagined so much it felt more like a memory. A voice that she had only heard in her dreams.
"Hello, Starlight. My, how you've grown."
There in front of her stood Daros Paniir.
Her father.